On September 19–20, 2026, an international professional course dedicated to ultrasound diagnostics was held in Yerevan, organized by VitaMed Medical Center and SonoSchool Armenia.
The event was held as an EFSUMB Endorsed Course, bringing together specialists from Armenia and abroad to explore modern ultrasound diagnostics, its clinical applications, and the development of practical skills.
The main goal of the course was to make international expertise accessible to the Armenian medical community and to build the educational program not only around theoretical knowledge but also around its direct application in clinical practice.
International Expertise and Leading Specialists
One of the key features of the course was the participation of internationally recognized experts, who presented current approaches to ultrasound diagnostics, international experience, and their application in clinical practice.
Prof. Dr. Dieter Nürnberg — Brandenburg, Germany
Prof. Dr. Dieter Nürnberg is a representative of EFSUMB and WFUMB, a professor of internal medicine, gastroenterology, and ultrasound diagnostics, as well as the founder and director of the Institute for Clinical Ultrasound in Brandenburg.
He has held several key professional positions, including serving as Vice President of WFUMB and President of DEGUM. His extensive clinical and educational work covers a wide range of modern ultrasound applications, including POCUS (Point-of-Care Ultrasound), gastrointestinal ultrasound, interventional ultrasound, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and ultrasound education.
During the course in Yerevan, participants had the opportunity not only to attend Professor Nürnberg’s lectures but also to observe his practical work, take part in clinical case discussions, and participate in Live Demo and Hands-on practical sessions.
Prof. Dr. Ioan Sporea — Timișoara, Romania
Prof. Dr. Ioan Sporea is an internationally recognized expert in general ultrasound diagnostics, former President of WFUMB, and Director of the WFUMB Education Center in Timișoara.
He is a co-author of 17 international WFUMB and EFSUMB guidelines and has been involved for many years in international scientific, clinical, and educational programs in ultrasound diagnostics.
Professor Sporea’s main professional and research interests include liver elastography, multiparametric ultrasound, quantitative assessment of liver fat, screening for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the liver (CEUS).
As part of the course, participants had the opportunity to discuss modern non-invasive methods of liver assessment with Professor Sporea and explore their application in real-world clinical situations.
Key Areas of the Scientific Program
The international course was designed to establish a close connection between theoretical knowledge and practical clinical work.
The program included:
- theoretical education — 60%
- gastrointestinal ultrasound diagnostics,
- liver ultrasound assessment,
- elastography;
- Hands-on practical training — 30%;
- Live Demo — 5%;
- clinical case discussions — 5%.
This structure made it possible to combine up-to-date scientific knowledge, analysis of real clinical cases, and practical skills development within a single educational platform.
«From knowledge to practice»
The central concept of the event was “From knowledge to practice.”
Over the two-day course, participants worked with real ultrasound equipment, took part in practical sessions involving live models and real clinical cases, observed Live Demo examinations performed by international experts, and discussed different diagnostic approaches.
Modern simulation technologies were also incorporated into the educational process, including the OPUS ultrasound simulator, which enables participants to develop practical ultrasound examination skills in a controlled learning environment.
This format allowed participants not only to attend lectures by international experts but also to communicate directly with them, ask questions, discuss their own clinical experience, and receive practical guidance.
A Platform for Professional Collaboration and Continuing Education
The event was not only an educational program but also a platform for professional communication, knowledge exchange, and the development of new opportunities for collaboration.
The course brought together ultrasound specialists, radiologists, gastroenterologists, internists, family physicians, and representatives of other related medical specialties.
The participation of physicians from different fields made it possible to view ultrasound diagnostics not only as an individual diagnostic method but also as an important tool in modern clinical decision-making.
International Medical Education Available in Armenia
The goal of VitaMed Medical Center and SonoSchool Armenia is to promote a modern culture of continuing medical education in Armenia and create opportunities for Armenian physicians to gain access to international expertise, modern technologies, and high-level practical training locally.
This EFSUMB-endorsed international course represented an important stage in the development of SonoSchool Armenia’s educational programs and laid the groundwork for future local and international professional courses, practical training programs, and expert meetings in Armenia.
VitaMed Medical Center and SonoSchool Armenia will continue to develop international professional collaboration, contributing to the advancement of ultrasound education and clinical practice in Armenia.
